²⁸ “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”  

16:28

Assuredly [places emphasis on the following statement], I say to you, there are some [three, in fact] standing here who shall not taste death till [six days later] they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Jesus declared that some listening to Him at that present time would see Him enter the kingdom. How can this be true, since Jesus has not yet come back in over 2,000 years? He was speaking of the Transfiguration (following verses in chapter 17) where God’s glory became manifest on Him. All three gospels give an account of the transfiguration (Mt. 17:1f; Mark 9:1f; Lu 9:27-36). The transfiguration is a picture of the coming kingdom.

PRINCIPLE:

God’s principle is that we win by losing and by setting a new set of priorities originating from the Lord.

APPLICATION:

Jesus did not offer health and wealth to His followers. Discipleship is not self-image, self-love, or self-esteem. Similar to the Judaism of Jesus’ day, religious teachers of our day offer a prosperity gospel devoid of sacrifice. We cannot reconcile this teaching with the New Testament. Jesus’ reaction to Peter’s attempt to deflect Him from going to the cross was that this was of the devil.

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Jn 12:24-25